Acetylene-gas generator.



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- No. 686,584. Patented Nov. I2. I90l.

' T. A. BRYAN. I

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application filed Mar. 26, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shut I.

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=a| ll No. 686,584. Patented Nov. l2, l90l.

T. 'A. BRYAN.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

. (Appliation filed Mar. 26, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

m: uonms PETERS ca, FNOTO-UTHO" WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. BRYAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,584, dated November 12, 1901.

Application filed March 26,1901. Serial No. 52,986. (No model.)

To 00 whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, THoMAs'A. BRYAN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Balti- This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in acetylene-gas generators having certain features of construction and principles of operation common to an invention in this art forming the subject-matter of a separate application for patent filed March 26, 1901, Serial No. 52,985. In said companion application I have described and illustrated an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus designed particularly for use upon railroad-trains, where the exigencies of the case require that the apparatus employed shall be compact and that the gas shall be generated in substantially exact proportions to the consumption and be consumed as generated, so that no considerable body of gas may remain in the apparatus and constitute asource of danger in case of accident to the train. Accordingly the generator and holder are combined in one casing, and a flexible diaphragm exposed to the pressure of the gas generated regulates the feed of the carbid.

The present invention, relates to an acetylene-gas generator of the type known as a house-machine -that is to say, it is adapted to be located in a' small outbuilding near to a dwelling, hotel, orother building where the gas is to be burned for illuminating purposes. Under these circumstances it is necessary or at least desirable that a certain amount of gas be kept stored at all times to be ready for immediate use. To this end the present apparatuscomprises a generator and I a separate gas-holder having a movable bell;

and the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of ,partswhich will permit of the use of the feed apparatus described in my saidv companion'application in connection with a movable bell located in a gasholder separate from the generator.

In order that my invention may beclearly understood, Ihave illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an apparatus constructed according to my invention.

2'is a view at right angles to Fig. 1, the

generator being shown in section. Fig. 3 is feed position of the carbid-chute; and Fig. 4: is a similar view showing the extreme lowered position of the chute, in which it is automatically closed to prevent feed of carbid. Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the generator, preferably of a shape tapering from near the bottom to the top, as shown, to lessen the air-space therein, and 2 the gasholder, which may be of the usual or any preferred construction and will not be described in detail.

3 indicates the usual escape-pipeto relieve excessive pressure of gas in the holder, ithe service-pipe leading therefrom to the place of consumption, and 5 the pipe conducting gas as generated from the generator to the gas-holder. The pipe 5 leads from the generator through a three-way valve 6, and the escape-pipe 3 communicates with said threeway valve by means of a short pipe-section 7. A lever 8, bent to'have its upper end extend over the screw-cap 9,covering the fillingorifice of the carbid-receptacle 10, is secured at its lower end to the stem of the three-way valve 6. vWhen this'lever is turned down to permit the carbid-receptacle to be opened, the three-way valve will be turned to open communication between the generator and the escape-pipe 3 to permit any gas in the generator to escape before the cap 9 is removed. 'When' so turned, communication from the generator through pipe 5 is closed. 'In the normal or operative position of the partsshown in Figs. 1 and 2 communication from the generator through pipe 7 to escapepipe 3 is closed. The filling-spout 1 1 and its valve,' the sluice-valve 12, and the lever con nections 13, Li, and '15, cooperating there with and operatively connected to the lever 8, are all as described in otherapplications, and it is not necessary that: their construction and operation be set forth more in detail herein.

Located in the top of. the generator is the carbidreceptacle 10, previously mentioned. Within the generator this receptacle is provided with a tapering wall 16, terminatingin section, through which the carbid is disa detail view, in part section, showing the a spout 17, preferably rectangular in crosscharged upon a curved plate- 18, pivoted at one end to one side of the spout, as indicated at 18, and projecting across the mouth thereof and a considerable distance beyond the opposite side of the spent and at its free end having a depending lip 19. Pivotally mounted upon the spout 17 and inclosing the outlet thereof on three sides is a chute 20, the bottom whereof supports the plate 18 by means of the lip 19, resting on said bottom. The pivot of the chute 20 is formed by a rod 21, journaled in the spout 17, to opposite ends of which rod the sides of the chute are securely fastened, so that the chute may be turned or rocked by turning said rod. To the end of the shaft 21 is secured, intermediate its ends, an arm 22, projecting at opposite ends beyond the front and rear of the chute, respectively, and having on its rear end a weight 23 and on its front end a cup or socket 24. Said cup is designed to receive the lower end of a depending finger 25, secured to the bell of the gas-holder.

26 indicates a curved flap or apron, pivoted at its upper end to the spout 17 immediately above the upper edge of the chute 20, asindicated at 27, and having at its lower end a weight 28. The front side of the chute 20 is open and its edges curved, and the apron 26 is similarly curved and adapted normally to rest against and close the front open side of the chute. Pivotally secured at one end to the apron 26, as indicated at 29, is an arm 30, having its under edge recessed to provide a shoulder 31, which normally engages a stud 32, formed on the side of the chute. This stud is preferably formed by extending one end of the rod 21 through the side of the chute. The arm 30 extends backward beyond the rear side of the chute, and at the rear side of the chute is located a projection 33, which at certain times is adapted to engage the under side of the bar 30 and lift it out of engagement with the stud 32.

In operation when the bell 34 of the gasholder is in a raised position the chute 20 will he turned to a substantially horizontal position through the action of the weight 23 on the bar 22. Such position is shown in Fig. 2, and in this position the apron 26 rests against the front side of the chute and securely closes the same. As the bell descends the finger 25 presses the outer end of the bar 22 downward, thereby turning the chute to substantially the position shown in Fig. 3. When the chute is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the apron 26 will be slightly raised thereby, so that the shoulder 31 will not be in direct contact with the stud 32. This is to permit a fall of the bell for some distance before causing a feed of the carbid. As the bell continues to fall the shoulder 31 engages the stud 32 and prevents the apron 26 falling farther. Thus the chute will be moved away from the apron 26, as shown in Fig. 3, leaving a space for the fall of the carbid between thefront edge of the bottom of the chute and said apron and through the medium of the lip 19 of the curved plate 18 will cause a forced or positive feed of the carbid, all as fully explained in my companion case referred to. When the bell rises, the weight 23 will turn the chute to bring its front side into engagement with the apron and prevent further feed of the carbid. Should the bell descend so far as to turn the chute to the position shown in Fig. 4, the projection 33, engaging the under side of the arm 30, will lift its shoulder out of engagement with the stud 32 and permit the apron 26 to fall against the chute and stop the feed.

While the construction of the feed-apparatus described herein is precisely the same as that described in my companion case referred to, it will be seen that the conditions of operation are exactly reversed, for whereas in the present case the chute is positively lowered by the fall of the bell and raised by the action of the weighted arm, in said companion case the chute is positively raised by the action of the diaphragm (corresponding to the bell in the present case) and lowered by the action of a weighted arm.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, in combination with a generator having a carbid-receptacle, a pivoted support for the carbid within the generator, a" gasometer having a bell, means actuated in the downward movement of the bell to positively force the carbid in regulated quantities 0d of said supportinto the generator, and means carried by the support to return it to its normal position as the bell rises.

2. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, in combination with a generator having a carbid-receptacle, a pivoted support for the carbid, a gasometer having a bell, means actuated in the downward movement of the bell for rocking said support upon its pivot, means carried by said support for returning it to its normal position as the bell rises, means coacting with said support for causing a positive feed of the carbid in one movement of the support and means for preventing the feed of the carbid in the opposite movement of said support.

3. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, in combination with a generator having a carbid-receptacle, a pivoted support for the carbid having a feed-opening, an arm secured intermediate its ends to said support and having a weighted end, a'pivoted apron normally closing said feed-opening, a stop for said apron, a gasometer having a bell, and a finger carried by said gasometer for engaging the opposite free end of said arm.

4. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, in combination with a generator having a carbid-receptacle provided with a spout, a plate pivotally secured to said spout, a chute pivotally mounted on said spout and supporting said plate, a pivoted apron coacting with said chute, an arm secured intermediate its ends to said chute and having a weighted end, a gasometer having a bell, and means carried by the bell for engaging the opposite free end of said arm.

5. In an acetylene-gas-generating apparatus, in combination with a generator having a carbid-receptacle provided with a spout, a plate pivotally secured .at one end to said spout and at its opposite end having a lip, a chute pivotally mounted on said spout and supporting said plate and having afeed-opening, an apron pivotally secured at one end to said spout and having a Weighted end, a stud on said chute, an arm pivotally secured at one end to said apron and having a shoulder engaging said stud, a projection on the chute adapted to engage the free end of said arm, a second arm secured intermediate its ends to said chute and having a weighted end at the rear of said chute, a gasorneter having a bell, and a finger carried by said bell and adapted to engage the opposite free end of said weighted arm in the downward movement of the bell, the combination operating substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS A. BRYAN.

'W itnesses:

HOWARD R. PYLE,

OHAs'. L. SKINNER. 

